Union leaders reject minister's push for WRC talks with strike to go ahead

Public expenditure minister Jack Chambers said the planned strike on Wednesday will cause 'great disruption' to the country. File picture: PA

Union leaders have rejected the Government’s push for urgent pay talks on Tuesday, as they confirm strike actions are set to go ahead on Wednesday.

The Government had invited unions to formal talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), as public expenditure minister Jack Chambers called for the strike to be postponed.  

However, the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) said the letter from Mr Chambers had not represented a change in the Government’s position.

Hundreds of thousands of public sector workers are set to go on strike on Wednesday, which is expected to cause widespread disruption to schools, hospitals, public services, and the Dáil schedule.

The strike will see nurses, doctors, teachers, civil servants and other workers take part in a 24-hour work stoppage as part of a row with the Government over pay negotiations amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Mr Chambers said that pay “can and should be discussed as a priority”, alongside “other matters” as part of the talks.

“I believe an agreement can be reached without delay if both parties are willing to enter an intensive process of engagement as soon as possible,” Mr Chambers said.

In a response, PSC chair Kevin Callinan and officers Phil Ní Sheaghdha, John Boyle and Adrian Kane said the Government must acknowledge specific pay issues raised by unions.

They added that this must be dealt with at the start of talks, rather than at the end.

“The PSC letter also underlined the importance of restoring confidence in the public service industrial relations process, saying it has been “severely damaged” by unimplemented commitments in the last agreement,” the union leaders said in a statement.

“Unions continue to prepare for a 24-hour work stoppage that will take place on Wednesday 14th October.” 

In his letter, Mr Chambers pointed to the Government’s announcement that €1.2bn was being made available for the pay talks.

Mr Chambers said the planned strike on Wednesday will cause “great disruption” to the country, particularly vulnerable people as well as the “avoidable loss of earnings for public servants”.

“I believe that this action is unnecessary, particularly when the Government stands ready to enter talks and work with you towards a fair and meaningful resolution for all parties.”

• Tadgh McNally, Political Reporter